Punch Art Ornaments

Here's a fun and easy way to create Christmas card... this card comes from my friend Melanie and it is just so clever! Use your punches to create ornaments by punching them out of your favourite Designer Series Paper. Notice how she use a heart punch to add the little ornament holder at the top... is there a proper name for that part of the ornament? Hmmm, if there is, I don't know it! It's a bit hard to see in the photo, but Melanie added some glitter to the ornaments to dress them up a bit. Very cute!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!)

Santa's Workshop was a lot of fun!

With Christmas music playing, twelve stampers worked away at creating holiday cards this afternoon... It's always such fun to share our creations with enthusiastic stampers and today was certainly very enjoyable!

This "JOY" card was one of the choices and many people made it. I was really proud of this card. I think it's one that would really stand out in a Christmas card display. As many of you know, I love using the Big Shot and this card is a good example of that!

This card was not one of the Santa's Workshop cards... but I wanted to share it with you here. Isn't this little Build-A-Bear adorable? He takes a bit of work to cut and assemble, but he's sure worth it! I should probably add some white to the pom-pom on his hat... just noticed that now as I'm looking at on my computer.

There are still a couple of seats available in next Sunday's Santa's Workshop... email if you'd like to join in the fun!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!)

Butterflies...

I think that every single card with a butterfly on it makes me happy! This adorable card was a make and take at one of our demonstrator meetings. I had hidden it away with the idea that I would use it as a card for a Stamp-A-Stack... unfortunately I hid it so well that I managed to forget about it! Fortunately, I was doing some organizing in my craft room a couple of weeks ago (not that you would be able to tell now!!) and I found it. I adore the layout on this card. Maybe it will re-appear in a Stamp-A-Stack in the spring when we are getting back to butterfly season!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!)

More Santa's Workshop Dates, Open House, and Deal of the Week

Hey everyone! Just popping in to give you the latest news quickly...

First, click over to my website to see details of this week's deal. If you want to try some new embellishments on your cards, scrapbook pages and other projects, this is the time to order!

I've been busy the last couple of evenings getting cards ready for this year's Santa's Workshop... we have 11 ready to go and two more that I will create tomorrow night. I've finally managed to work out some additional dates (thanks for your patience!). There's still space available this Sunday, October 25th starting at 1:00 pm. And, the two new dates are Sunday, November 1st at 1:00 pm and Friday, November 6th at 7:00 pm. If these dates don't work for you and you are still interested, please email me to let me know and I'll see if I can schedule another.

And, at long last, the Open House date is scheduled... It will be on Saturday, November 28th. Please mark your calendars - you won't want to miss this! I'll post more details soon, but let me just say that I am super excited about the door prizes - one door prize is the Tabletop Paper Cutter! Woohoo!!

Hope to see you soon... Until then, happy stampin'!

Bev.

Welcome Baby

Here's a quick and easy baby card that I made a couple of weeks ago... Actually, I made two - one in Regal Rose and one in Lavender Lace. I liked both and although I only spent about 20 minutes making both of them, I was quite pleased with the outcome. A few details... the stroller is from the Fun & Fast Notes set and the greeting is from the Short & Sweet set. I stamped both using StazOn ink and I carefully watercoloured using an AquaPainter. On the layer under the stroller, I ran the card stock through the ink to darken it a bit and give it some texture. I ran the background card stock through the Big Shot with one of the Texturz Plates to duplicate the dots that are on the stroller. And, of course, some ribbon finished the cards off perfectly!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!)

Deal of the Week - Week 2

Here are this week's deals...

Item	Description	Special Price
115961	Perfect Setting Bigz XL die	$34.99
114515	Flower Burst Embosslits die	$7.49
116760	Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL die	$34.99

These special prices are available until October 18th. Order today to be sure you don't miss out!

It's time for Santa's Workshop!

Announcing the first date... there will be more!

This is one of the most popular stamping classes each year so I will offer additional dates. But, the first date will be Sunday, October 25th starting at 1:00 pm.

This class will feature all Christmas cards, in the same format as a Stamp-A-Stack. Cost is $15 and includes up to 7 cards, or you can keep stamping and we'll calculate your total based on $2 per card. Register at bevennis@shaw.ca.

This is a great way to start getting inspiration for your Christmas cards! The card shown here is another make and take from my last downline meeting. This one is Alicia's creativity. Isn't this stamp set - Lovely as a Tree - one of the most versatile sets? It's great for all seasons.

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!)

Be thankful

As we get ready for the Thanksgiving weekend, I thought I would share this lovely card that was one of the make and takes at my group meeting last weekend. This one is the creative work of Sonia. I just love the colours of fall and am so enjoying watching the leaves change colour right now... The designer series paper on this card make it a quick and easy one to create, but it's very beautiful.

I hope that you enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend. I look forward to reflecting on all the many things in my life for which I am thankful.

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

PS - I know that many of you are anxiously waiting to hear about upcoming classes... I will post dates over the weekend, including the date of my Open House!

(All images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!)

Magical Birthday Wishes...

I'm just getting ready to head out to a 4th birthday party for little Chantal... I finished making her card and then realized that I had it all sealed in the envelope and had not even thought to take a picture! Silly me...

So instead, I'm sharing this adorable card that I received in a swap from my friend Alicia. I love how Alicia chose to colour this image... it could be one that would be very time consuming, but looks perfect just outlined in colour. Another idea for this that I've seen is to leave it completely uncoloured (is that a word? I don't think it is... oh well!) and then attach a couple of crayons to the front of the card so that the little girl who receives it can do her own colouring. I was thinking about that idea just now and then thought that you could maybe attach the horse layer with magnets to your card front so that she could take it off, colour it and then have a fridge magnet. That would be fun! Oh, but I would recommend stamping the image in Jet Black StazOn if you did this because it will not be as prone to fading as the Classic ink would be... or you could stamp in Craft or VersaMark ink and emboss in black which would be really cute!

Okay, I better go get showered... I have to go help decorate and then I'm in charge of entertaining the kids at the party today so I can't be late! : )

Bev.

PS - Happy birthday to our little neice Brooklyn who is turning 2 today! Wish we could be in Calgary to celebrate with you, but we will be thinking about you!! : )

(All images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!)

September Contest Cards

I received 3 submissions for the September contest... what great submissions! Here they are:

This first card was made by Tiffany. Some of you may have met Tiffany when she's come to stamping classes here with her Mom. She's a great little stamper and I always enjoy when she's able to come and stamp with us! I adore her ghost card. She's cut the ghosts and clouds out by hand and then used circle punches to make the moon and pumpkin. I particularly like how she dragged the stamp pad over the background card stock to make it look like night. Cute card, Tiffany!!

Tiffany's Mom, Jamie, also submitted a great fall inspired card. She did a lovely job of colouring in all these images... And, I really like the ground that she coloured in. It looks like Jamie used Watercolour Paper which makes watercolouring so much easier.

And the last card was submitted by Carol Lynn. I was thrilled to see her use these leaves. Stampin' Up used to carry them, but they were retired quite a while back. I always loved them, but unfortunately they were one of those things that I treasured so much that I never used them myself! It looks like Carol Lynn used the French Script background stamp on this card. This is such an elegant card.

Thanks to all of you for entering the contest and sharing your artwork with us!

Now, it's time to announce the winner. Remember, your name goes in once for each card submitted and then I use a list generator to choose the winner... Here's what came up this time around:

1. Carol Lynn
2. Tiffany
3. Jamie

Congratulations to Carol Lynn! You have a $20 credit to spend towards any current Stampin' Up! products and you can select one of the following hostess sets: Love Bug, Live Like You Mean It or Dear Friend.

Okay, time for a new contest... For the month of October, the contest theme will be KIDS! Anything for the littler ones in the crowd. Same "rules" as always... your submissions must use only Stampin' Up! products (current or retired) and in emailing me your submission, you are giving me permission to post it on my blog. The prize will again be $20 in Stampin' Up! product plus a hostess stamp set. You will receive one entry in the prize draw per submission.

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

Deal of the Week is Back for October!

October looks like a great month! Each week, a new "deal" will be announced... but it will only be available for that week. Check back often to be sure you don't miss any of the great offers! You can always check out the specials on my website - click here.

WEEK ONE DEAL: From October 1 - October 12th you can purchase any or ALL of these great punches for the listed sale price.

Trio Flower Punch

Page 186

$15.99 SALE! $22.95 Regular

5-Petal Flower Punch

Page 187

$15.99 SALE! $22.95 Reg

My Way Punch

Page 187

$16.99 SALE! $22.95 Reg

Happy punchin'!

Bev.